Arsenal Women boss Jonas Eidevall insists they can challenge Chelsea for the WSL title next season

New Arsenal Women boss Jonas Eidevall has set his sights on taking the club back to the top of English football and believes the club can challenge WSL champions Chelsea.

The coach, who was announced as the Gunners’ new manager on Monday, will join up with his new team when his contract expires with Swedish club Rosengard on July 12.

Arsenal finished third in the WSL last season, nine points behind Emma Hayes’ team and two behind Manchester City. But Eidevall is confident the club can return to the summit, having last won the league in 2019.

When asked if he thinks the Gunners can win the title next season, he replied: ‘I do, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the job. 

‘Of course I know it won’t be easy but I think there is small things we need to change that can make big improvements like our ability to be more resistant against high pressure. To be even more intense in our own pressing, for example, those things that will all come down to small details that we need to work on.

‘But if we can change those things I think that will be a big change for us. Especially getting us another momentum in the games against top teams.

‘I’m really happy about the squad that I have and about the structure around the team and the investments that are currently being made by the club into the women’s team. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge. But yes, I believe we can win.’

Arsenal have committed to providing more support for their women’s team by increasing the number of backroom staff, making improvements to their London Colney training base and they have also said the club will play more games at the Emirates.  

The manager believes the Gunners can challenge Chelsea for the WSL title next season

‘Whenever I spoke to any person in the club, whether it be Vinai (Venkatesham) the CEO or Edu the technical director, or Claire Wheatley, the level of ambition for the women’s team was super high,’ Eidevall said.

‘They are all passionate about this and want to improve things. Seeing how they are now adding resources with staff, facilities and so on, I think that’s great and we’re really moving in the right direction.

‘For me, it would have been a warning sign coming into a club like this with this amazing and fantastic history in women’s football and they would have been satisfied with being where they are. That I never think is a good sign for any organisation because good organisations need to be ambitious, they need to review things, they need to turn every stone to always see how they can get better. The fact that they do that is an assurance for me that we are moving in the right direction.’

Eidevall started his coaching career with men’s side Lunds BK and was also assistant to Henrik Larsson at Helsingborgs. The club were relegated from the Swedish top flight in 2016, with Larsson and his son suffering abuse from a small section of fans. However, Eidevall spoke positively about his experience working alongside the former Barcelona and Manchester United striker.

‘It was a tough time in Helsingborgs when I was working with Henrik because in the end we got relegated from the Premier division. It was a tough time financially because the club were doing a lot of cost savings and had to lower the wage budget a lot.

Eidevall opened up on his experience working alongside Henrik Larsson at Helsingborgs

‘But I have to say that even though that was a very tough year and I wish that we had stayed up for all the fans and players, it was amazing to work with Henrik. To see a person like that on a day-to-day basis, how he handles situations, how he handles adversities, how he handles situations in the locker room and the determination and the details he looks at.

‘When you work around a person like that you can really understand why he made it to the very top and why he is so well respected amongst all the players and coaches he has worked with. I took away a lot from working with him and most from the way you can handle yourself in adverse situations and to always have a big personal integrity.’

Arsenal have already signed Mana Iwabuchi from Aston Villa and Eidevall hopes to strengthen his squad further in the summer transfer window.

‘Of course I’m thinking about players all the time.

‘We will be looking in all leagues but I haven’t used my connection to the players in Rosengard in any regards for this position. I haven’t been telling any of them, “hey I’m going to Arsenal, come and join me here.” Because of the position I have, of course I know there is interest in several of our players but I haven’t been speaking to any of them about Arsenal.

‘I hope we can add some players to the squad. Obviously I like to have my input as well along with other great minds working with us.’

Arsenal have already signed Mana Iwabuchi and Eidevall wants to strengthen his squad further